On the very date Oak Knoll first opened its doors in 1924, the school community gathered for the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 — a tradition marking not only the spiritual beginning of the school year but also the launch of Oak Knoll’s 101st year of faith, learning, and purpose. 

Students from pre-kindergarten through the Class of 2026, along with faculty, staff, administrators, and alumnae/i, filled the Mother Mary Campion Center for the Performing Arts, celebrating a century of legacy while looking ahead to the next 100 years.

“We’re beginning the next 100 years,” said Father Larry Evans II, Pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Millburn. “This is our beginning. We learn our ABCs so we can learn to read and learn to write, and we hope that this year, each of you will write your story because you are part of the next 100 years of the Oak Knoll story.”

The Mass, concelebrated by longtime Oak Knoll friend and former Board Chair Msgr. John “Jack” Carroll and Father Michael Ward ’76 also marked a milestone for members of the community. Following the Mass, Head of School Jennifer G. Landis and Board Chair Stephen Loughrey honored 22 Oak Knoll staff and faculty for reaching 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 40 years of service.

These service-award honorees are:

5-year award

• Gisella Bosco: Upper School World Language Teacher
• Meghan Cassidy: Lower School Physical Education/Health Teacher and Head Ice Hockey Coach
• Regina Cherill: Grades 3-6 STEM Teacher
• Emma Kramer: Assistant Director of Admission and Community Engagement and Belonging Liaison
• Christine Mahoney: Upper School Counselor
• Melissa Miller: Director of Community Engagement and Belonging
• Robert Weck: Director of Security 
• Cheryl Wilkinson: Director of Auxiliary Operations
• Jessica Wilson: Kindergarten Teacher

10-year award

• Kelly Childs: Director of Athletics
• Kim Connolly: Associate Director of Technology Innovation & Integration and Lower School Technology Teacher
• Kelly Hartmann: Lower School Physical Education/Health/Creative Movement Teacher and Head 5/6 Lacrosse Coach

15-year award

• Cristina Hammond: Lower School Reading Specialist
• Lisa Levchuk: Upper School English Teacher
• Sean Melican: Upper School Science Teacher
• Elizabeth O’Mara ’86: Associate Director of Institutional Advancement
• Elinor Takenaga: Director of Hope Memorial Library

20-year award

• Grace Fidler: Upper School History Teacher
• Irinia Posso-Campana: Upper School World Language Teacher
• Mike Schmalzer: Turf Specialist/Groundskeeper

25-year award

• Zohra Ismail: Upper School Dean, Grades 10-12

40-year award

• Patti Cepparulo: Lower School Religion Coordinator/Grade 3 Religion Teacher and After-School Program Director

In addition to celebrating the start of Oak Knoll’s second century, the Mass served as an opportunity to thank each member of the school community — especially the milestone honorees — for everything they contribute to making Oak Knoll a place where young men and women are taught they are created by God for an intended purpose and are inspired to discover that purpose and make a significant, positive impact on the world.

Here’s to a tremendous 2025-26 school year, and to the next chapter in Oak Knoll’s remarkable story!